Travel Behavioral Health Nurse Jobs

The agencies on Vivian that currently have the most Travel Behavioral Health Nurse jobs are TotalMed Staffing (64), Supplemental Health Care (56), and OneStaff Medical (53).

As of Tuesday, October 3rd 2023, Vivian has 508 Staff Nursing jobs listed. These jobs pay $47 per hour on average, with the highest-paying job listed up to $79 per hour.

As of Tuesday, October 3rd 2023, Vivian has 14 jobs listed for per diem Nursing jobs. These jobs pay $45 per hour on average and up to $52 per hour for the highest-paying role.

As of Tuesday, October 3rd 2023, Vivian has 16 listings for local contract Nursing jobs. These jobs pay $55 per hour on average, and up to $75 per hour for the top-paying job listed.

Take a look at Vivian's Travel Behavioral Health Nurse Career Guide for more information, including required education, responsibilities, pros and cons and more.

Behavioral health nurses are registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients with psychological and behavioral disorders. The terms behavioral health and mental health are often used interchangeably and the duties, patient populations, and work settings of a behavioral health nurse frequently overlap with those of a mental health or psychiatric nurse. Although it can be a stressful career path, behavioral health nursing can be very rewarding for those wanting to help patients suffering from mental illness and seeking an in-demand specialty with numerous opportunities.

Many patients may have multiple diagnoses that involve both behavioral disorders and mental illnesses, and the duties of behavioral health nurses vary based on their patient population and work setting. Behavioral disorders and/or mental health illnesses a behavioral health nurse may encounter include substance use disorders, eating disorders, self-injury, addictive behaviors, anxiety or panic disorders, personality disorders, trauma-related disorders like PTSD, psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, phobias, and mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder. Some general duties may include:

Behavioral health nurses often work in behavioral health inpatient, outpatient, or community health clinics. They may also work in psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, residential facilities for mentally disabled or developmentally delayed patients, and community-based shelters. Some work as liaisons in emergency rooms, acute care settings, and med-surg units that have patients experiencing behavioral health crises. There are also numerous behavioral health travel nursing opportunities available for short-term and long-term assignments.

Good behavioral health nurses possess superior assessment skills and a keen ability to recognize body language and other non-verbal cues of behavioral and mental health crises through their advanced knowledge of the behavioral sciences and mental illnesses. Their exceptional critical thinking and clinical judgment skills allow them to react quickly, calmly, and consistently to prevent self-harm or physical injuries to others. They have strong communication, active listening, and other interpersonal skills that allow them to excel at patient interaction within appropriate boundaries, making a profound difference in their patients’ lives. Open-mindedness, empathy, patience, and the ability to be assertive without being aggressive are vital qualities for a good behavioral health nurse.

The first step towards a career as a behavioral health travel nurse is an associate degree in nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited nursing program. To become licensed, every state requires graduates to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Certification in Basic Life Support is required and some positions require Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certification and/or crisis prevention training. Most travel positions require one to two-plus years of previous experience and some want applicants to have previous travel experience.

Behavioral health nurses may hold Basic Life Support (BLS) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse (PMHN-BC), among others.